Coast Guard Assists in Release of 600 Sea Turtles Off Boca Raton Coast
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Sea turtle hatchlings are placed in bins by members of Gumbo-Limbo Nature Center prior to being released to the Atlantic Ocean July 27, 2015. In total, 624 loggerhead hatchlings, nine green sea turtles, three juvenile loggerheads and one post hatchling hawksbill were released by the Coast Guard and Gumbo-Limbo Nature Center. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jon-Paul Rios.
MIAMI — More than 600 baby sea turtles were released back into the Atlantic Ocean Monday in a joint effort between the Coast Guard and the Gumbo-Limbo Nature Center.
In support of the Coast Guard’s commitment to protecting endangered species and the marine environment, crewmembers from Station Fort Lauderdale, Florida, transported marine scientists and volunteers from the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center offshore to assist in the release of the hatchlings.
The sea turtle hatchlings come from turtle nests located along beaches throughout Florida, which are the primary nesting grounds for Loggerhead sea turtles. In addition to the more than 600 baby sea turtles being released, four turtles between the ages of 6-months and 1-year will be released back into the wild following rehabilitation at the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center.
In all 637 sea turtles were released:
- 624 Loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings
- Nine Green sea turtle hatchlings
- Three rehabilitated Loggerhead post-hatchling sea turtles
- One Hawksbill post-hatchling sea turtle